Pencil case and lead



(No Model.) 7

J. HOLLAND.

PENCIL CASE AND LEAD. No. 298,583. Patented May 13, 1884.

.ETTEST. I-NVENTOR- IN. PETERS. Phcwlilhognpher. waahingwnvo. C.

UNiTnn STATES PATENT FETCH.

JOHN HOLLAND, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

PENCIL CASE AND LEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,583, dated May 13;, 1884.

Application filed October 16, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN HOLLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pencil-Cases and Leads for Use in Pencil-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to what is popularly knownas ever-pointed pencils. Its object is to strengthen, cheapen, and otherwise materially improve the construction of the case and adapt it to use with my improved form oflead. Its object is also to improve the form of lead used in this class of pencils, so that it can be more readily applied, and more securely and firmly held for use.

\Vith these objects in view my invention consists in reducing the inner end of the lead, so that when grasped by the lead-holder the lead and its holder may both be protruded from the case to insure the ready removal of the lead when worn out, or of thepiece grasped when accidentally broken off in the graspingjaws, and also the ready replacement of a new lead. It also consists in certain peculiarities of construction, which especially adapt my pencil-case for use with my new lead, all of which will be fully understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in-whioh Figure l is a View, partly in central longitudinal section and partly in elevation, of a pencil case embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a View showing the handle, lead, and lead-carrier in elevation, and the point and follower tube in central longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section greatly enlarged of the lower parts of the pencil with the handle removed. In both Figs. 2 and 3 the lead-holder is shown protruded and grasping the inner end of the lead.

Referring to the parts, which are represented by similar reference-letters wherever they occur in the various views, A represents my improved lead. This difi'ers from the leads ordinarily used in this class of pencil-cases in having its inner end, which is grasped by the clamping-fingersB of thelead-carrier, reduced, so that when the lead is clamped firmly in the fingers the fingers are no larger in diameter than the lead used, that the lead-clamping tube or fingers may pass readily through the opening in the pointw-hich the lead snugly fits. By this means the leads may be readily secured in the clamping tube or fingers B, and should the lead, through carelessness or accident, be broken off in the fingers, the piece can be readily removed when the lead-holder is protruded, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. I am thus enabled to dispense with the screw-jointed point-section and make my point-section O in a single piece,which is much more firm than the jointed point, the weakness of which is the principal cause of the leads breaking when in use. Besides, the solid point is much cheaper to make.

The lead-carrier consists of the small tube B, (which in this case is slotted upon one side only to afford sufficient spring to allow the lead A to be forced into its outer end. I prefer this form to the tube divided by two or more slots to form fingers, which is commonly used in pencils in which the lead is inserted within the point-section, as it holds the lead more firmly, and as the lead is inserted when the tube is protruded, more force can be used to introduce the lead to its seat,) and an outer-tube, b, which is secured over the tube B.

From the' inner end of the lead-carrier pro jects a pin, 1), which passes throughalongitudinal slot in the tube D, and into the spiral slot in the tube E. The tube D is securely soldered to the point-section G, and the lead-carrier B I) b is fitted to slide within it, the pin 1) preventing the same from rotating as it is carried forward and back by rotating the spirallygrooved tube E,which is fitted to turn upon tube D between the collar I) and a collar formed by the solder in the point-section. Secured firmly upon the forward end of the spiral tube E is a short tube or collar, F. The forward end of this projects within the point-section O. The tube F is made to snugly fit within the handle G, which is preferably of wood enamaled to imitate vulcanized rubber or ebony, is forced within the handle, and held in place by frictional contact, so that when the point-section is held by one hand and the handle turned by the other, or vice versa, the spiral tube is turned upon tube D, and the lead-carrier protruded or retracted as the handle is turned to the right or left,while the point-section is held stationary.

I make no claim to the means of operating the lead-carrier to protrude or retract the lead or carry it forward or backward in the case, as my invention is equally applicable to all styles of pencil-cases, but merely suggest the form shown as the best means known to me of applying my invention to a cheap, durable pencil adapted to take the place of the ordinary lead-pencils now in common use; but

What I do-clailn, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, substantially as specified, of a pencil-case provided with suitable mechanism to move a lead-carrier back and forth within said case, with the point-section, lead A, and lead-grasping fingers or tube B, the said tube or fingers being of a size to pass through the point-section opening when grasping the lead, and the lead having its end reduced to permit the fingers to grasp and hold it without projecting beyond the lead, so that the fingers holding the lead may be protruded beyond the point-section, and thelead may be held firmly against lateral play when the fingers are retracted within the case.

2. A lead having one end reduced, whereby it is adapted to closely fit the opening in the point of an ever-point pencil, and be grasped by the tubular end of the lead-carrier adapted to pass through said opening, substantially as specified.

. JOHN HOLLAND. \Vitnesses:

M. W. OLIVER, GEO. J. MURRAY. 

